Electric belt



(No Model.) 7

J. P. FIELDS.

ELECTRIC BELT. I No. 439,347. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

awuewtoz I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FRANKLIN FIELDS, OF ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,347, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed March 29, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn own that 1, JOHN FRANKLIN FIELDS, of St. Ignace, in the county of Mackinac and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Belts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a view of my improved galvanic belt. Fig. 2 is a side view of a couple of the members or cells thereof detached. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional viewthereof. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View showing the position of the cells when about to be disconnected.

This invention is an improvement in electrical medical appliances of the kind usually called galvanic belts; and its object is to improve the construction thereof by so constructing its members that the elements which are subject to more rapid decomposition or incrustation in the generation of the current, when so far exhausted as to be nearly useless, can be conveniently removed and replaced by fresh or new elements of the same character without injury to the other element.

In my invention I preferably surround the inner element (such as zinc) with the other element, (as copper,) making the latter into a casing in which the inner element is secured in such manner that it is retained until entirely consumed or exhausted; and I also thoroughly insulate the elements constituting a member or cell of my belt from each other, overcoming any tendency to short-circuit.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter clearly described and claimed. Before proceeding with the description of the mechanical features of my invention I will state that I propose to employ copper and zinc as the positive and negative elements; but do not confine myself to such metals, but employ them in the following description for the sake of clearness.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A des- Serial No. 345,810. (No model.)

ignates one of the members or galvanic cells of my belt. These are composed of two separable and independent plates of opposite polarity. The outer copper plate B is bent upon itself in U shape, and its ends are turned inward, forming catches b b, in one of which is retained the side of a wire link 0, forming the connection with the zinc plate of another member A. In the other catch 17 is retained one side of a locking loop D, the ends 01 d of which are bent up at about right angles, so that when the free or outer side of the loop is caught over the adjoining end of the plate B, to which it is connected, the ends will not bind against the link 0. The loop D, it will be observed by reference to the drawings, forms a bond or catch for holding the ends of the outer plate together; but it can be turned or thrown back to disengage the ends and permit the outer plate to be opened. The end of the plate B, over which the link 0 is caught, is preferably transversely indented or grooved, as at 11 to retain the loop D in engagement therewith.

E designates the opposite element formed of a zinc plate bent upon itself around the opposite side of a link 0, so that the links 0 form a connection betweenthe opposite elements or plates B E, as shown. This plate E is wrapped around with a porous covering e such as felt-and is then slipped between the leaves of an outer plate B, the ends of which are then confined together by the loop D, thereby inclosing and retaining plate E in position. In order to preventshort-circuiting by conduction of the wire link 0, I employ pieces G G, formed of gutta-percha,vulcanite, or other insulating material. These pieces are slipped between the ends of links 0 O and the sides of adjoining plates B B, and the pieces are grooved externally, as at g, and notched at their ends, as at g, the groove and notches forming a continuous channel, in which the end of the link 0 rests and whereby the piece is retained in position. The pieces are of such length that they overlie the edges of the plate B at the side of the link connected to plate E and always keep suchside of the loop from contacting there with, as shown, so that while link 0 forms a connection between the zinc element of one cell and the copper element of the next it cannot establish communication between the zinc and copper elements of the same cell. The ends of pieces G, which adjoin the ends b b of plates B, are recessed on their inner faces, as at h h, to accommodate the ends (Z d of loops D, so that when the cells are lyingnearly end to end the ends of loops D would bind against the pieces G and prevent the loops being turned backward, so that the ends of plates B cannot be freed or unfastened during the ordinary use of the belt; but when for any reason it is desirable to remove a cell from the belt for repairs, &c., or to add other cells two adjoining cells are turned side by side, as in Fig. 5. Pieces G are turned backwardly sufiiciently to allow loops D to be turned to free the ends of plate B of one of the cells.

To recapitulate, briefly, in constructing or assembling the cells the zinc plate is covered to a suitable thickness with a porous layer, then placed within the outer copper plate, the link with insulators in its ends is turned to side of the outer plate, and the loop or clasp (preferably made of brass spring wire) is turned over the opposite end of the outer plate. Then the loop and insulators are turned back to proper position, and one cell is complete. The next one is made in the same manner, and by catching one of the hooked ends of the outer plate with 'the free side of the link attached to the first-made cell before fastening of the ends by its loop the cells are securely united.

The cells or loops form a kind of chain imparting sufiicient flexibility to the belt to make it comfortable to the wearer. The cells are easily taken apart in reverse order of constructing them. The metallic portions or cells are preferably incased in a covering J, having at its ends the positive and negative electrodes P N, respectively connected with one of the series of opposite elements in the cells. Where a double belt or series of cells are used, I prefer placing one electrode at the center of belt and connect it with the positive elements of the two series of cells and place the negative electrodes at the ends of the belt, and the belt may be provided with suitable connections for use with surgical bandages.

Having described my invention, what 'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is

l. The combination of the cells, each composed of an inner element, an outer element bent upon itself in U shape around the inner element, but not in contact therewith, and having its ends which project beyond the end of the inner element confined or clasped together to retain the inner element in position, with the links connecting the inner element of one cell with the outer element of the opposite cell, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the cells, each composed of an outer element bent upon itself, an inner element suitably covered placed within the outer element, with the links connecting the. inner element of one cell with the outer element of an adjoining cell,'and theinsulating-pieces at the ends of said links, whereby short circuiting between the elements of one cell is prevented, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the inner element with the outer element or plate B, bent upon itself, and the loop D for confining the ends thereof, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the inner plate E, bent upon itself, and the outer plate B, bent upon itself and inclosing the inner element, with the links 0 and loop D, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the inner element and the outer element bent upon itself, of the links C and the insulating-pieces G G, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the cells comprising an inner and an outer element,with the links 0, connecting the inner element of one cell with the outer element of an adjoining cell, and the insulating-pieces G G, interposed between the ends of said links and the edges of the cells, whereby short-circuiting between the inner and outer elements of the same cell is prevented, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the inner element, the outer element B, bent upon itself and having hooked ends b b, the loop D for securing said ends together, and the links 0 and pieces G G, grooved and notched, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination of the cells, each composed of a zinc plate E, bent upon itself and having a covering 6, an outer copper plate B, bent upon itself and inclosing the inner element, the loop D, securing the ends of the plate B together and having its ends dd upturned, the links 0, uniting the zinc plate of one cell with the copper plate of an adjoining cell, the insulating-pieces G G, secured between the ends of links 0, and the edges of the cells united by said links and having recesses h on their inner faces to receive the ends cl d of the loops D, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FRANKLIN FIELDS.

Vi tn esses:

RosE CHAMBERS, SARA GALLAGHER. 

